THE MUSICAL expertise of the University of Western Australia will utilise the acoustics of St Mary’s Cathedral for a unique concert on August 23.
The concert, titled ‘Innovation’, is part of UWA’s Artistry! series which celebrates the university’s 100-year anniversary. It is also the second show in the 2013 Cathedral Concert Series.
The UWA Symphony Orchestra will be joined by the Winthrop Singers to perform an extensive repertoire, including Benjamin Britten’s Hymn to St Cecilia.
String orchestra conductor Paul Wright said Britten’s work is “absolutely translucent”.
“It sounds like you’re in heaven and the angels singing when you hear that piece,” he said.
Other pieces to be performed on the night include Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis and Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder.
“The music is centred around unadulterated beauty,” Mr Wright said. “Every work in the program is meaningful.”
The renowned musician said the biggest attraction for the performers was the chance to work in St Mary’s Cathedral.
“The Vaughan Williams piece was first performed in Gloucester Cathedral… and the music was really designed to explore the extraordinary complexities of stone work in cathedrals,” he said.
“[He] combines elements of a 16th-century hymn with the modern language of the early 20th-century in the same way that St Mary’s has this mixture of modern and old in its Cathedral, so the work will fit magnificently in that building.”
Mr Wright described the building’s acoustics and significant resonance as “challenging”.
“However, the music we’ve chosen will fit the venue beautifully… it should sound utterly magnificent in there,” he said.
The concert begins at 7.30pm and tickets are $25. To book tickets, call UWA on 64882440.